The NC State Wolfpack football squad will look to improve on its 6-3 overall record by matching the school record for most wins in conference action in a season. The Pack is 5-3 in the ACC, and is a heavy favorite at Syracuse (1-8, 1-7 ACC).
We will have updates throughout the game here.
Fans can discuss the contest on the Wolves' Den message board.
Final stats (3:52 p.m.)
Wolfpack holds on (3:50 p.m.)
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Payton Wilson sacked Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper on the NC State 18-yard line. Not realizing it was fourth and goal, Culpepper hurried up to spike the football with one second left as the Orange was out of timeouts. That turned the ball over on downs to NC State.
NC State's victory improves the Wolfpack to 7-3 overall and 6-3 in the ACC. It is scheduled to conclude its regular season next Saturday at home against Georgia Tech.
NC State gets a field goal (3:25 p.m.)
The Pack added some insurance with a 31-yard field goal from junior Christopher Dunn with 5:20 left, giving the Wolfpack a 36-29 lead.
NC State retakes the lead (3:00 p.m.)
A couple of huge third down conversions has NC State back in front.
Facing third and 10 at the Syracuse 40-yard line, redshirt junior Bailey Hockman found redshirt junior Thayer Thomas open for a 12-yard gain. Then on third and eight from the 26, senior receiver Emeka Emezie made a contested catch in the end zone to put the Wolfpack up 33-29 with 14:14 left in the game.
A two-point conversion attempt pass was incomplete.
Stats through three quarters (2:55 p.m.)
NC State quickly responds with a TD (2:45 p.m.)
On an 8-play ,75-yard touchdown drive the Pack never faced a third down, and redshirt junior receiver Thayer Thomas caught his third TD reception of the game, cutting Syrcause's lead to 29-27 with 2:22 left in the third quarter.
Good field position sets up Orange TD (2:38 p.m.)
A 27-yard punt return by receiver Nykeim Johnson gave the Orange excellent field position at the NC State 44-yard line. Then facing third and five at the NC State 13, quarterback Rex Culpepper hit receiver Taj Harris on a 13-yard score to make it 29-20 with 5:49 left in the third quarter.
Strong start to second half for Wolfpack (2:22 p.m.)
Sophomore running back Zonovan "Bam" Knight opened the second half with a 44-yard kickoff return off the goal line. Then NC State redshirt juniors quarterback Bailey Hockman and receiver Thayer Thomas.
The two connected on three passes, including a five-yard gain on third and three, and then a 31-yard touchdown to cap the drive with 12:35 to go in the third quarter.
The two-point conversion pass to senior receiver Emeka Emezie was caught out of bounds, however.
Halftime stats (1:52 p.m.)
Bailey Hockman's costly mistake leads to safety (1:36 p.m.)
Sophomore running back Zonovan "Bam" Knight's questionable decision to return a kickoff from the end zone cost NC State field position at its own 12-yard line. On the first play of the drive, redshirt junior quarterback Bailey Hockman, under pressure, seemed to try to throw it away and ended up tossing it out of the back of the end zone for a safety with 3;12 left in the half.
Big play gets Syracuse back on top (1:34 p.m.)
Facing third and five at its own 40, Syracuse senior quarterback Rex Culpepper was able to roll out away from the blitz and connect on a 60-yard bomb to receiver Nykeim Johnson to put the Orange back in front at 20-14 with 3:23 to go.
NC State back in front (1:23 p.m.)
NC State overcame a 13-yard loss on a first down sack when Syracuse committed a pass interference penalty on third and 20, and that set the Pack on its way to retake the lead with 6:05 left in the first half.
Redshirt junior quarterback Bailey Hockman found redshirt junior receiver Thayer Thomas for the score on a 15-yard pass.
Another turnover, another Syracuse FG (1:06 p.m.)
On the first play of its possession, redshirt junior quarterback Bailey Hockman's pass to fifth-year senior C.J. Riley was popped into the air and intercepted after Riley took a hard hit to his back.
The pick was returned to the NC State 5-yard line, but three straight incompletions led to a 23-yard field goal by junior Andre Szmyt with 13:08 left, giving Syracuse a 13-7 lead.
Syracuse takes lead after Pack turnover (12:57 p.m.)
NC State redshirt junior quarterback Bailey Hockman was originally ruled to have scored on an 11-yard bootleg touchdown run, but review showed he lost the football just as he approached the pylon and fumbled, leading to a turnover and touchback for Syracuse.
The Orange drove to the NC State 27 where it junior Andre Szmyt connected on a 45-yard field goal with 13:40 left in the half.
First quarter stats (12:53 p.m.)
Syracuse returns kickoff for TD (12:33 p.m.)
Syracuse quickly tied the game up with a 98-yard kickoff return for a score by freshman receiver Trebor Pena.
The game is tied 7-7 with 7:25 left.
It is the first time the Orange has returned a kickoff for a score in an ACC game.
NC State strikes first (12:29 p.m.)
It has not been a smooth game thus far.
Syracuse picked up a first down on fourth and two because NC State had an illegal substitution. Eventually its drive stalled at the NC State 39 and the Orange chose to punt.
On its second play of the game, NC State junior running back Ricky Person Jr. appeared to have scored on a 66-yard catch-and-run, but on review he was found to have stepped out after a 20-yard gain.
Syracuse twice gave NC State first downs with penalties, including a roughing the passer on third and 19. That led to NC State scoring on a seven-yard run when sophomore Zonovan "Bam" Knight was able to fall on his own fumble in the end zone with 7:38 left in the first quarter.
Inactive list for NC State (11:45 a.m.)
The following players are not on the active list for Saturday’s game at Syracuse:
Sophomore safety Rakeim Ashford
Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Derrick Eason
Redshirt junior safety Max Fisher
Redshirt freshman nickel Jalen Frazier
Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Joshua Harris
Senior corner Chris Ingram
Redshirt junior defensive lineman Dante Johnson
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Leary
Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Zovon Lindsay
Redshirt freshman safety Khalid Martin
Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Timothy McKay
Redshirt sophomore receiver Jasiah Provillon
Sixth-year senior offensive lineman Tyrone Riley
Junior corner Teshaun Smith
Ashford, McKay and Smith have been officially ruled out for the season, while Leary and Martin are likely gone for the remainder of the year, too. Frazier and Ingram have not played this year after suffering injuries last spring and fall, respectively.
This is the sixth consecutive game Eason has missed, and for Riley it’s five in a row. Provillon has now not play in seven games.
For Syracuse, its starter at quarterback the last three games, freshman JaCobian Morgan, will miss the contest.
